Hi All

 

I have a birthday coming up shortly and am looking at what I can do to improve my laptop performance.

 

I'm now officially a senior citizen and my eyesight is not what it was, so I'm looking at a decent screen size but not at anything cinema-sized.  My main use for the laptop is research via the browser and I'm finding my present setup (HP 6910p laptop, 2GB, 80GB drive win7/32) just isn't up to the browser work in particular.

 

My options seem to be:

1) spend ~£90 on 4GB memory, ~£60 on a solid state disk and upgrade the 6910

2) spend ~£300 on a 4GB/£200GB/win8 laptop - Costco is touting a Toshiba one at the moment (http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_1,cos_1.2,cos_1.2.4/163398?utm_source=EmailFY14P9W2a&utm_medium=bb-1&utm_term=163398&utm_campaign=EmailFY14P9W2a) as an example.

 

I like the way the 6910 works but it can't keep up with my research style - multiple browser windows open whilst I cross reference, note-taking and orifice programs open also.  I'm about to build a NAS so I'll not benefit much from the 750GB drive, but I reckon I need 150-200GB so I can work away when needed.

 

Another consideration is network speed; there are increasing times when I'm transferring large (5-20GB) datasets to the server and I need a gigabit network port on the laptop - either build-in or an addon.

 

USB3 would also be a plus.

 

Any thoughts, guidance, sarcastic (but helpful) suggestions out there?

 

Regards, Mike

 

I've often wondered if it's a bit of a racket and that there may be built in it's-gonna-slow-down-quicker'n-you'd-think-edness.  I've had several pooters now which have gradually slowed to painful speeds.

 

I gave up and moved over to a MacBook Pro a couple of years ago, but still keep an old Dell as a printer driver as I've a fairly decent printer that won't print from my MBP.

 

If it were me, I'd consign the HP to light duties and give the Toshiba a go.

 

Gaz

Hi 

 

U didn't say wots your current CPU + speed?

 

For £90+£60 = £150 for extra RAM / SSD

For comparison I bought my son a used Dell 15.6" Pentium Duo Core 2ghz 6gb RAM 120gb SSD Win8.1 for £170. Laptop was only 18months old.

 

I don't think it will speed up the browser if u upgrade to SSD.

CPU/RAM certainly the way to go for browsing.

That's a lot of GB to backup.

Is this necessary, or can u do an incremental backup?

 

U need quite a new laptop to have USB3.

But eSata is quite fast too!

 

Good luck with your choice!

I would download some free software and have a junk clear-out before spending silly money.

 

I rescued a friends ancient PC (originally ran WinME!!), by clearing out all the dead and junk files slowing it down, moving everything possible out of the "Windows" folder, and deselecting 90% of the background programs running at start-up as they were not needed.

 

You can also speed things up by removing bloatware like..

 

IE and installing Firefox or Chrome.

 

Adobe reader and installing Foxit.

 

WMP by installing WMP Classic.

 

Office by installing Libré Office

 

Look at AV and firewall programs that dont hog resources.

 

Fix the size and defrag your swap file.

 

Repair and compact the registry.

 

This took a machine that could barely move, back to something that clanked along at a reasonable speed.

 

Try the various offerings from Piriform, and dont forget to look at the advanced options in CCcleaner.

The 6910p's are pretty bullet proof. 

 

We're only now replacing them at work after between 5 and 6 years service - and they're only being replaced because they've fully depreciated.

 

I've played with these a lot over the last couple of years and the biggest and best upgrade was sticking Win 7 64bit on there. Much more capable machine after that!

 

I would suggest upping the ram to 4gb (no way this with be £90, you just need 2gb DDR2 so looking about £40) and upgrading the OS.

 

Also, is the 80gb HDD the one it came with out the factory? If so it's probably worth replacing this just because of age, some of the speed issues may be down to dodgy sectors on the HDD so your seek time is increased.

Ill go for option 1 too...

 

even just upping the RAM to 4gig will make a massive difference to you... SSD will be the icing on the cake!

 

Be weary of toshiba laptops - SWMBO has a "satellite pro" and although its a reasonably specced machine and performs well - the keyboard is horrible!.. Ive got her a replacement HP machine arriving tomorrow.

Hi All

 

I like the way the 6910 works but it can't keep up with my research style - multiple browser windows open whilst I cross reference, note-taking and orifice programs open also.

Regards, Mike

 

I DO hope that's a typo error Mike

 

Keep the current laptop as a 'back-up' but maybe invest in a new laptop to mark the occasion of your birthday.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY for the BIG day.   :beer:   

I keep thinking the same, should I upgrade.... But sod it, I have 2 similar speced laptops (6 & 4 years old) as first one went off for warranty work and I needed one in the mean time so bought something only slightly better and the other one came back in record time defeating the purpose. I have only 1 power cable and they both take the same one. My mobile phone is more powerful than these things, but for general internet and video editing etc they do ok and I can't justify it until they both die of natural causes.

 

I don't know what your spring cleaning regime is like on your laptop? I run a couple of programs I like and do so quite religiously, a friend who got the same laptop as me 2 days before is like a snail in comparison to mine. Zero car taken with it in his system config the start up list is impressively giant for example. One of these people who when he has problems with it will walk into PCWorld and buy a big cardboard box with some mystical magic CD in it which will cure anything and make you PC 25million times faster............   

Extra RAM may be helpful. SSD maybe less so. Do you use the lappy because it's unobtrusive and can be hidden away? Have you got a docking port/station and external keyboard/monitor etc?

The cost of upping the RAM count really depends on whether it is populated with 2x1GB DRAM modules, or has 1x2GB with a free space to add another.

Ta for input, guys. Please keep it coming.

I'm out & about for a couple of days so I'll get back with a more helpful response after I return.

Ta for advance birthday wishes - it's Saturday.

Regards Mike

Sent from my GT-P5110 using Tapatalk

Hmm probably junk plus a bit short on memory.

 

If boot times aren't an issue then I wouldn't bother about the SSD it won't change the issues you have.

 

You're running the 32bit version of Win7 so you're limited to the memory you can put in. 32bit can only cope with about 3Gb anything above that it ignores. However probably still worth bumping it up if you can, the extra gig will still help. My laptop and desktop both run 8Gb RAM in Win7 64.

 

If you're feeling brave and have the disks a full format and restore will clear out much of the junk that accumulates over time. If you're doping that you might as well stick on 64bit, up the memory as far as you can and stick in an SSD. It'll go like buggery if you do that.

 

If not got through your program list and remove everything you don't use.

 

Piriform CCleaner is good at flushing out crud (and free).

 

Opera is allegedly the fastest browser. Chrome is also fast but reports everything you do back to Google.

I still like Firefox but run it with adblock and noscript add ons.

I recently saved a Toshiba laptop from the scrap pile after a friend having years of issues with it - It had been barely used!

 

It came out of box with Win 7 64 bit installed.... and 1GB RAM! Made on a budget for Argos from the google searches I completed! Went on eBay, got 4GB of DDR2 RAM for £15 (2nd hand), whacked it in and its a different beast!

 

No point junking machines for the sake of a few quid on some 2nd hand parts....

According to here it has a Core 2 Duo T9300 so not too bad.

 

The RAM is installed as 2x1GB so the upgrade would need to be 2x2GB.

 

I would with double the RAM and an SSD it should be fast enough for you.

 

Phil

OK, managed a quick sneak on the PC (I'm supposed to be clearing furniture ...).

 

Tried the Tosh; didn't like keyboard or screen aspect ratio, so that's out.

 

I really like the 6910p layout so I'm going to keep it and beef it up.  Favourites from here are:

 

- 4GB

- SSD

- Win7 64

 

Some questions (aren't there always?

 

1. Memory from Crucial seems the best deal (http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=39A9B44AA5CA7304)

 

2. Disk is SATA 2 @ 3Gb.  There are two drives recommended by Crucial at 240/256GB; they differ mainly in write speed (250Mb/500Mb) and price (£86/£122).  Will I notice the difference? In other words, is the faster drive worth the extra £38?

240 link (http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=C58A660AA5CA7304)

256 link (http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=D69C95CAA5CA7304)

 

3. Is there a cheap way of accessing my old drive after swapping?

 

Many thanks again for all the advice.

 

Regards, Mike

I just bought my SSD from currys.

Its an OCZ 256GB with 500 write and 500 read.

£89. Bargain!

You can buy an external drive case for it, some SSD kits used to include one, but I dont know about current sets.

 

Just make sure you buy the right case for the HDD, 2.5/3.5 - ATA/SATA, some cases can handle both IDE ATA and SATA using an internal adapter.

All SSDs are very fast, you probably won't notice much difference between them so just look at capacity and check the reviews for reliability. I have a dirt cheap drive I got for £25 in a sale and it makes my old laptop fly.

 

Crucial kit is good but often you can buy it cheaper on Ebuyer.com

 

If you're going to buy a new 64bit operating system you might want to think about Win8. It's really not as bad as the media like to make out and it is very fast.

Or make the leap to Linux and grow a beard.

 

As GG says you can buy an external USB enclosure for your old drive, Ebuyer have them from about £10. It'll be a 2.5" for a laptop drive.

Edited 23 April, 201412 yr by Aspman

Define "fast".

 

Some of them have excellent "read" figures, but pathetic "write" figures, and after perusing a selection and ordering one last night, I noticed wild variations in read/write speeds even on models of similar make and price.

 

From 150/60 on a 64GB standard model to 565/450 MBps on a 60GB "Enterprise" model, with only a few £'s difference between them. (Same make, same SATAIII spec, same seller)

They can also have impressive top-line performance figures but some have very poor random read and write which is where it matters the most in day to day use.

 

Phil

All SSDs are very fast, you probably won't notice much difference between them so just look at capacity and check the reviews for reliability. I have a dirt cheap drive I got for £25 in a sale and it makes my old laptop fly.

Crucial kit is good but often you can buy it cheaper on Ebuyer.com

If you're going to buy a new 64bit operating system you might want to think about Win8. It's really not as bad as the media like to make out and it is very fast.

Or make the leap to Linux and grow a beard.

As GG says you can buy an external USB enclosure for your old drive, Ebuyer have them from about £10. It'll be a 2.5" for a laptop drive.

Point taken on relative ssd speeds. Don't know if I can find random rw speeds but I'll look.

Ta for ebuyer suggestion.

I already have win7/64 so don't have to buy at this point. I'm going to play linux for my nas server but I already have a beard if that's permitted

The usb enclosure suggestion reminded me that I have one with a 1tb sata drive in so I can just cannibalise it for now.

Thanks again fo the various input, all.

Back to moving furniture :(

Regards, Mike

Sent from my GT-P5110 using Tapatalk

Er

 

Is it true that SSD has a life dictated by the number of read/writes?

 

Or are newer SSDs much much more longer shelf life than HDDs?

Don't forget to try the trackpad. 

 

Most screens are going to be a similar aspect ration. Pushed out by apple to widescreen, useless for working, great for videos.

 

If you want a different screen, then it's back in time or up in budget. Although to apples credit, they hold a 16:10 so at least a tad more vertical. 

 

I'm getting off apple kit, but actually it's fine. Good hardware. Once this last one goes from my desk I'm back on thinkpads. Although I'm still sorely tempted to hit the ebay for some older tech and upgrade. Older models can have better keyboards etc. Maybe not such great screens, I will miss this retina screen, but it's overkill for programming/email. Some of the older business enterprise models still have a potential kick to them, and a squarer screen. That said I try to external screen use mine as much as possible.

 

SSD... I'm swapping from demanding it to a lesser position. Once you've had the speed it's hard to go back. Once an application is open, you get a diminished return. Great for photos etc, flicking back and forth. Email/Office less so. Slightly adapt your workflow to open and close programs as you need them, ssd's back in the game. Need storage, it begins to lose again.

 

My current ideal is a ssd boot for applications and a fast traditional drive for home dir etc. I'm to slow now to sense the difference. I then synch that hourly to a nas, then nightly to another and then to the cloud.

The exception would be a fast 6Gb connection versus a 3Gbs connection in the same machine. Highly unlikely in a laptop! Consider a chromebook for some aspects, banking or secure site work only etc. It will give you a fast little nimble travel machine too. Grab one with a SD reader to be useful

Under linux 8gb of ram is mostly fine, mac, I keep hitting ram issues, windows I don't even go there. Left it in 2003 kept a win 2000 vm around for photoshop. Recently 8.1 on a surface for testing and I do like it. Older hardware will really fly under some of the lighter linux distributions. Bit of a learning curve, but it's faster for me that way than windows as nothing is where it was left in 2003.

 

The ssd will help, as if /when you hit ram buffers and head to swap you'll be swapping on your ssd. Which will be faster I don't really notice it on mine.

 

Safest bet, pop your old drive out, put well to one side. 
 

re ssd lifetime, depends a little I understand on the disk bios, newer ones are better. The one in my desktop is 3+ years old. Can't say much more other than I'm ready to buy another one, once 6gb standard has gone through a couple of intel chipsets so it's cheaper.

 

HTH.

Er

U lost me Colin :-(

Lol

But thanks for the last bit on SSD life :-)

Er

U lost me Colin :-(

Lol

But thanks for the last bit on SSD life :-)

 

 

 

Mines been showing this much life left since I had it